Article carrier reinforcing structure

Abstract: An article carrier having bottom, top, side and end walls interconnected to form an enclosure of rectilinear configuration and having a pair of spaced apart hand hole openings (27,27a) formed in the top wall includes a reinforcing strip (26) secured to the inner surface of the top wall and between the hand hole openings. End extensions (26a,26b) which may or may not be adhered project from each end of the reinforcing strip and are folded into flat face contacting relation with the end walls (20a,23a) respectively and are secured thereto. The fold lines between the end extensions and the cooperating end edges of the reinforcing strip are debossed so as to protrude inwardly and mate with a complementary embossed area which is encased by torque relief slits (42,43,44) thereby reducing the tension along the outer surfaces of the fold lines between the top wall and the end walls so as effectively to strengthen the load bearing elements of the carrier top wall.

Description: This invention relates generally to hand carried article carriers and is particularly concerned with the construction of hand gripping apertures and related reinforcing means. U. S. patent 2,849,112 issued August 26, 1958 discloses a can carrier of the wrap around type in which the can chimes both top and bottom are arranged so as to reside in slits formed in the top and bottom edges of both side walls. Chimed cans under adverse conditions may tear the end corners of the carrier and thus effectively destroy the package. A pair of spaced scores are formed astride an inwardly folded panel and form embossments which reinforce the carrier at the upper and lower corners thereof at both ends of the carrier. U. S. patent 2,872,036 issued February 3, 1959 discloses a paperboard wrap around carrier for cans having inwardly folded reinforcing strips disposed about the end edges of the carrier and in which parallel double score lines are formed at the carrier corners which are out of alignment with the packaged can chimes and which thereby serve to strengthen the carrier. U. S. patent 2,933,867 issued April 26, 1960 includes an incidental disclosure of short slits formed at the top and bottom end corners of the carrier which serve to prevent tearing of the carrier structure due to the fact that these small slits are disposed in transverse relation to the carrier comers and close to the ends of the wrapper both top and bottom. According to this invention in one form, an article carrier having bottom, top, side and end walls interconnected to form an enclosure of rectilinear configuration includes a pair of spaced apart hand hole openings formed in the top wall. A reinforcing strip is secured to the inner surface of the top wall between the hand hole openings and includes end extensions projecting from each end of the reinforcing strip and folded into flat face contacting relation with the end walls respectively and secured thereto. The fold lines between the end extensions and the cooperating end edges of the reinforcing strip are embossed so as to protrude inwardly thereby to reduce the tension and the tendency for rupture to occur along the outer surfaces of the fold lines between the end extensions of the reinforcing strip and the part of the reinforcing strip which is secured to the carrier top walls so as effectively to strengthen the load bearing elements of the carrier. According to another aspect of the invention, an article carrier comprising bottom, top, side and end walls each having an inner surface interconnected to form an enclosure in which said top wall includes load bearing elements in which adjacent part of said end walls are associated with said top wall, a pair of spaced apart hand hole openings are formed in said top wall, a reinforcing strip having cooperating end edges secured to the inner surface of said top wall and between said hand hole openings, fold lines between said top and end walls, end extensions projecting from each of said cooperating end edges of said reinforcing strip and folded along fold lines into flat face contacting relation with said inner surfaces of the adjacent end walls respectively and secured thereto, characterised in that the outer surfaces of the fold lines between said end extensions and the cooperating end edges of said reinforcing strip are debossed and in that the adjacent inner surface of each carrier end wall is embossed to provide complementary surfaces for reducing tension along the outer surfaces of said fold lines. According to an optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the tension between the outer surfaces of the fold lines between said end extensions and the cooperating end edges of said reinforcing strip may have a debossed portion and the adjacent inner surface of each carrier end wall may have said embossed portion. Preferably, said embossed portion has an inner end and embossed areas of a lesser width than said debossed portion so as to protrude inwardly and interact with torque relief slits thereby reducing the tension along the outer surfaces of said fold lines. According to another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the width of said embossed portion may be approximately 3mm (1/8 of an inch). According to yet another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the width of said debossed portion may be approximately 5mm (3/16 of an inch). According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention, said embossed portion may be connected to and spaced from said debossed portion by adjacent panels to provide a load bearing structure to strengthen the load bearing elements of the carrier top wall. In some embodiments, there is provided a first torque relief slit which may be disposed astride the fold line between said top wall and said end wall and the second torque relief slit is disposed adjacent the inner end of said embossed portion. Preferably, said embossed portions may include inner ends and which are formed at the fold lines between the ends of said reinforcing strip and said end extensions respectively and wherein the inner ends of said embossed portions are disposed adjacent the short torque relief slit disposed astride the fold lines between said top and end walls respectively. According to yet another optional feature of this aspect of the invention, the width of the debossed portion may be larger than said embossed portion and wherein the pair of torque relief slits are formed in said top wall and in adjacent parts of the associated end walls and closely adjacent said debossed and embossed areas. According to still a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention, said debossed portions of said end extensions of said reinforcing strip may be the largest in width of said portions and wherein a pair of end torque relief slits are formed adjacent the ends of said embossed and debossed portions and astride the fold lines between said top wall and said end walls respectively. According to another aspect of the invention, there comprises a first sheet of paperboard having an embossed channel, a second sheet of paperboard having an embossed channel which is of comparable size and configuration to said embossed channel of said first sheet and said portions having mating surfaces. Optionally, there may further comprise a third sheet of paperboard may have an embossed channel of different dimensions compared to the dimensions of said mating surfaces overlies but does not mate with said mating surfaces. Preferably, the third sheet of embossed paperboard is characterised by a smaller degree of embossment than said second sheet. According to a further optional feature of this aspect of the invention, a pair of transverse torque relief slits may be disposed adjacent the ends of said mating surfaces. In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view from the inside of a carrier blab formed according to this invention; Figure 2 shows a reinforcing strip 26 in dotted lines and folded into flat face contacting relation with top wall panel 18a and with the side wall 12 and parts associated therewith folded upwardly and toward the left along fold line 13 so as to occupy the position represented by FIG. 2; FIG. 3 is a view of the carrier in completed but collapsed condition; and FIG. 4 is simply a set up perspective view of a carrier formed according to the blank of FIG. 1. This invention is concerned with embossing the fold line between the portion of a reinforcing strip secured to the inner surface of the top wall and foldably joined to the outwardly extended projection secured to the end wall. This embossed structure may take several forms according to this invention as shown in fragmentary FIGS. 5A, 5, 6, 7 and 6. These embossments may be enhanced in effectiveness if short slits SS are used as indicated. With reference to FIG. 1, the numeral 1 designates the bottom wall of the carrier. Bottom end flap 2 is foldably joined to an end edge of bottom wall 1 along fold line 3. Bottom end flap 4 is foldably joined to bottom wall 1 along fold line 5. Side wall 6 is foldably joined to a side edge of bottom wall 1 along fold line 7. A side end flap 8 is foldably joined to side wall 6 along fold line 9. Side end flap 10 is foldably joined to side wall 6 along fold line 11. At the other end of the blank, side wall 12 is foldably joined to bottom wall 1 along fold line 13. Side end flap 14 is foldably joined to side wall 12 along fold line 15. Side wall flap 16 is foldably joined to side wall 12 along fold line 17. The top wall of the carrier according to this invention is formed of parts located at opposite ends of the blank shown in FIG. 1. Top wall panel 18 is foldably joined to side wall 6 along a fold line 19. Top end flap 20 is foldably joined to an end edge of top wall panel 18 along fold line 21. Portions of a tear strip formed in part in top wall panel 18 and in part in top end flap 20 are designated by the numeral 22. At the other end of top wall panel 18 top end flap 23 is foldably joined to top wall panel 18 along fold line 24. A tear strip 25 is formed in part in top end flap 23 and in part in top wall panel 18. A hand hole aperture 27 is formed in top wall panel 18 and is of well known construction. The top panel 18a at the opposite end of the blank from top panel 18 is identical to panel 18 in all respects except that reinforcing strip 26 is foldably joined to panel 18a along fold line 26c. This reinforcing strip has an end portion 26a at one end and a similar end portion 26b at the other end. The numerals used in connection with top panel 18a are duplicates of the numerals used in connection with top panel 18 except for the addition of the suffix a. The top end flaps associated with top wall panel 18a are designated by the numerals 20a and 23a. Tear strip 22a and tear strip 25a designate the tear strips similar to those at the opposite end of the blank. An application of glue is made to reinforcing strip 26 and to its end portions 26a and 26b. The strip 26 and its ends are then folded up and to the left along fold line 26c and side wall 12 and elements associated therewith are folded up and to the left along fold line 13. The structure with 26, 26A, 26B shown as dotted lines then appears as shown in Figure 2. Glue is then applied to top panel 18 and to end panels 20 and 23 and these panels are folded toward the right along fold line 19. The carrier then appears in completed collapsed condition as shown in Figure 3. When the carrier is set up it appears as shown in Figure 4. One condition which tends to weaken the overall handle structure is attributed to the fact that the reinforcing strip such as indicated by the numeral 26 is arranged with its end portions 26a and 26b folded downwardly. This downward folding places a substantial stress along the line of fold and on the outer surfaces of the fold lines between the major part 26 of the reinforcing strip and its end parts 26a and 26b. It is desirable to minimise or to eliminate the tendency for excessive stress to be placed at the points indicated at S and S1 as best shown in Figure 1. In order to minimise the stress due to folding of the reinforcing strip, the reinforcing strip is debossed by causing a narrow portion such as parts designated 40 and 40A to be formed by folding reinforcing strip and end parts respectively. This embossment then effectively removes from the points of stress a considerable amount of material which thus substantially limits and may eliminate altogether the tendency for the reinforcement strip and related adhered structures to become weakened at stress points such as S and S1 where the end portions 26a and 26b of the reinforcing strip are folded downwardly at approximately 90 degrees to the main body of the strip 26. Figures 5 and 5A show the application of the invention to a top end of a carton and depict an inner layer 26 and 26B adjacent to a debossed portion 40. A middle layer 18A and 23A adjacent to an embossed portion 41 and an outer layer 18 and 23 adjacent to fold line 24 which is associated with stress points S. As explained, these elements greatly enhance the carton strength and are of general application beyond the specific use of the invention as applied to a carton such as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The width of the embossed portion is approximately 3mm (1/8 inch) and of the debossed portion is approximately 5mm (3/16 inch). Figures 4, 6 and 8 show a fragment of a carton blank including reinforcement strip 26 foldably joined to top panel 18a and includes torque relief slits 42, 43 and 44. The term torque relief slits denotes parallel slits which isolate the build up of material in areas such as S and S1 best shown in Figure 4 from areas outside the area between the parallel slits. Figure 7 shows the reinforcing strip 26 and 26a after they are folded into contact with top panel 18a and end wall panel 20a. Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 but shows torque relief slits or cuts 42, 43 and 44. All of the short slits shown in the drawings are torque relief slits. Only slits 42, 43 and 44 are identified with numerals. As is shown in Figure 6, the width of the debossed portion 40, 40a is greater than the embossed portion 41, 41a and a pair of torque relief slits 42 and 43 are formed in the top wall and in adjacent parts of the associated end walls. The debossed portions 40 and 40a of the end extension 26a and 26b of the reinforcing strip are the largest width of the portions. Also torque relief slits are formed adjacent the ends of embossed and debossed areas and are disposed astride the fold line between the top and end walls of the carton. As is clear from Figure 5A, the mating channels 40 and 41 may be associated with a third sheet of paperboard having an embossed portion formed along the inner surface at fold lines 21, 24 (illustrated in Figure 1) which may not mate with debossed and embossed portions 40 and 41. Also the third sheet of paperboard 18 and 23 is characterised by a smaller degree of embossment. A pair of torque relief slits 42, 43 and 44 are disposed adjacent the ends of embossed and debossed mating surfaces. In Figure 5, the dimensions B are shown. These measurements must be at least as long as distance A shown in Figure 5A. This invention is well suited for use with medium to heavy caliper paperboard.

Claims: An article carrier comprising bottom (1), top (18), side (6, 12) and end walls (2, 4, 20, 23) each having an inner surface interconnected to form an enclosure in which said top wall (18) includes load bearing elements in which adjacent part of said end walls (20, 23) are associated with said top wall (18), a pair of spaced apart hand hole openings (27) are formed in said top wall (18), a reinforcing strip (26) having cooperating end edges secured to the inner surface of said top wall and between said hand hole openings, fold lines (21, 24) between said top (18) and end walls (20, 23), end extensions (26a, 26b) projecting from each of said cooperating end edges of said reinforcing strip (26) and folded along fold lines (26c) into flat face contacting relation with said inner surfaces of the adjacent end walls (20a, 23a) respectively and secured thereto, characterised in that the outer surfaces of the fold lines between said end extensions (26a, 26b) and the cooperating end edges of said reinforcing strip (26) are debossed and in that the adjacent inner surface of each carrier end wall (20a, 23a) is embossed to provide complementary surfaces (40, 41) for reducing tension along the outer surfaces of said fold lines. An article carrier according to claim 1 wherein the tension between the outer surfaces of the fold lines between said end extensions (26a, 26b) and the cooperating end edges of said reinforcing strip (26) have a debossed portion (40, 40A) and the adjacent inner surface of each carrier end wall (20a, 23a) have an embossed portion (41, 41a). An article carrier according to claim 2, wherein said embossed portion having an inner end and embossed areas of a lesser width than said debossed portion (40, 40A) so as to protrude inwardly and interact with torque relief slits (42, 43, 42A, 43A) thereby reducing the tension along the outer surfaces of said fold lines. An article carrier according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the width of said embossed portion (41, 42A) is approximately 3mm (1/8 of an inch). An article carrier according to any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the width of said debossed portion (40, 40A) is approximately 5mm (3/16 of an inch). An article carrier according to any of claims 2 to 5 wherein said embossed portion (41, 41A) connected to and spaced from said debossed portion (40, 40A) by adjacent panels (20a, 18a; 23a, 18a) to provide a load bearing structure to strengthen the load bearing elements of the carrier top wall (18). An article carrier according to any of claims 2 to 6 wherein a first torque relief slit (42) is disposed astride the fold line between said top wall (18) and said end wall (20a, 23a) and the second torque relief slit (43) is disposed adjacent the inner end of said embossed portion (40, 40A). An article carrier according to any of claims 2 to 7 wherein said embossed portions (40, 40A) includes inner ends and which are formed at the fold lines between the ends of said reinforcing strip (26) and said end extensions (26a, 26b) respectively and wherein the inner ends of said embossed portions (40, 40A) are disposed adjacent the short torque relief slit (43) disposed astride the fold lines between said top and end walls respectively. An article carrier according to any of claims 2 to 8 wherein the width of the debossed portion (40, 40A) is larger than said embossed portion (41, 41A) and wherein the pair of torque relief slits (42, 43) are formed in said top wall (18) and in adjacent parts of the associated end walls (20a, 23a) and closely adjacent said debossed and embossed portions (40, 40A; 41, 41A). An article carrier according to any preceding claim wherein said debossed portion (40, 40A) of said end extensions (20a, 23a) of said reinforcing strip (26) are the largest in width of said portions (40, 40A; 41, 41A) and wherein a pair of end torque relief slits (42, 43) are formed adjacent the ends of said embossed and debossed portions (40, 40A; 41, 41A) and astride the fold lines between said top wall (18) and said end walls (20a, 23a) respectively. In a carrier according to any preceeding claim, a first sheet (26, 26B) of paperboard having an debossed channel (40), a second sheet (18a, 23a) of paperboard having an embossed channel (41) which is of comparable size and configuration to said debossed channel (40) of said first sheet and said portions (40, 41) having mating surfaces. A combination of paperboard sheets according to claim 11 wherein a third sheet of paperboard (18, 23) having an embossed channel (S, S1) of different dimensions compared to the dimensions of said mating surfaces overlies but does not mate with said mating surfaces. First and second sheets of paperboard according to claim 11 wherein a third sheet (18, 23) of embossed paperboard is characterised by a smaller degree of embossment than said second sheet (18a, 23a). The combination of claim 12 wherein a pair of transverse torque relief slits (42; 43, 44) are disposed adjacent the ends of said mating surfaces.

Inventors: DEMAIO JAMES B, STOUT JAMES T, DEMAIO, JAMES B., STOUT, JAMES T.
Applicants: MEAD CORP, THE MEAD CORPORATION
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B65D71
IPC codes: B65D5